A very different Toronto Raptors team last night. Certainly playing with more fluidity offensively, unlike their loss to the Celtics Sunday, Toronto beat the Houston Rockets 129-113 in Houston last night.

Led by OG Anunoby's career high 16 points, and C.J. Miles' six three pointers as well as DeRozan's 27 pts., the Raptors did it right this time with better roster changes and more aggressive ball control. The fact that they scored a team record of 45 pts., in just the second quarter alone, and 75 pts., in the first, comes to show the determination and consistency, two things that continue to plague this Raptors team at times. Not in this road win. Not this time. Mistakes made in their previous game weren't allowed here.

What do you get when your team has a young, inexpensive bench unit and who's job it is to go head-to-head against the oppositions best? An impressive array of speed, both offensively & defensively.

Such was the case in the Raptors 125- 116 victory in New Orleans against the Pelicans Wednesday night.Against the Rockets in their previous road win, it was O.G. Anunoby's time to shine. Against New Orleans, and making life a little miserable for the Pelicans' Anthony Davis & DeMarcus Cousins, was Pascal Siakam & co.

The Raptors bench unit was anything but slow in contributing to their team's first half. This paved the way for the duo of DeRozan and Lowry (throw in C.J. Miles), and away the Raptors continued being opportunitic with their passing game and the three-point shooting.

DeRozan led for Toronto with 27 points, followed b6 Lowry with 22, Valenciunas with 21, and Miles with 17.

Though the reserves made several turnovers and at one point it looked as though the Raptors were on their way to yet anothet one of those 'inconsistent' losses, make no mistake for Miles three-point shooting gave the Raptors plenty of reasons to smile when it comes to what one can call clutch leadership, and steer the good young Raptor ship in the right direction.

Poelti, Siakam did what they had to do and when you have a veteran in-between, it can only help.

Scary moment for Deion Wright, seen leaving the game clutching his arm/shoulder,, in obvious pain.

The fairB+ DeRozan B+ VanVleet B Lowry B Poeltl B Wright B- Nogueira (DeMar's playmaking has improved from last season. Still very much Raptors' go-to-guy but inconsistent especially defensively & on point shots); (Call Fred VanVleet the 'little' guy that can, did, and does. Started off slow but as he's played more due to taking Wright's spot, is now considered among to three guards in the league); (Lowry doing all the little things -- rebounding three-point shots, defence, etc., -- that is expected of the Raptor's guard. As always, an important cog in the machinery); (Poeltl is fleet of feet and a work in progress. Shows promise.); (Wright's shoulder was a repeat nagging injury that has the Raptors concerned, otherwise, he is third in deflections among players in his position in the league); (Nogueira fluctuates wildly but still a useful backup centre)

The so-soC+ Powell C- Valenciunas C- Ibaka(Powells forte is as a reserve not as a starter. Not consistent in pressure situations. Fares better on three-point shooting): (Big JV -- a disappointment in that he never seems to break out to be better or perhaps more versatile); (Ibaka's best when positioned as centre. Adequate at best)

B+ Coach Dwayne Casey Casey's Raptors -- third in offence in league and ninth in defence. Has managed to engage and motivate young bench squad and get plenty out of others, such as Lowry even with his playing minutes down. Some may question the coach's decision-making but he certainly knows how to place the pieces of the Raptor puzzle together.

B+ President Masai UjiriUjiri's knack for drafting, trading, and signing of players -- such as Miles-- has been praised. Not so much the Ibaka & Valenciunas contracts, as these player's validity to the team has been left open to question.

Kyle Lowry with his 11th career triple double, and DeMar DeRozan's 31 points led the Raptors to a 120-87 stamping of the visiting Brooklyn Nets last night after ACC.

Other contributors for Toronto were Ibaka with 18 pts., Valenciunas with 14, and Powell & Poeltl with 11 each.

The Raptors are currently 19-8 and having won their eighth out of nine games in this stretch, and own the league's besthome record thus far at 10-1. They stand third in the Eastern Conference three GB the first place first Boston Celtics.

This game against the Nets featured the return of former Toronto Raptor DeMarre Carrol. Though Carroll didn't suit up for Brooklyn, he was impressed with the new look Raptors:

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"They're moving the ball, they're sharing it, they're playing great basketball," Carroll said. "My hat goes off to them. It's an exciting style of basketball they're playing, and they look like they're the top of the East and the top of the league right now."

The Raptors' DeMar DeRozan is certainly "proving 'em", as was the case in Toronto's 131-127 OT win over the Milwaukee Bucks at the ACC Monday.

DeRozan with 52 points on the night, double-teamed and all, led the Raptors in an "open" style rather than their in usual "pick and roll" offensive game. The open style allows for more ball-sharing & more of it's players involved in the overall scoring process. Which is exactly what enabled Toronto to cut down on the Bucks' defensive trap system.

With Kyle Lowry out of thw lineup -- bruised tailbone & back spasms -- and Serge Ibaka (suspension) - - the Toronto Raptors wasted no time Thursday night at the ACC in demolishing King James and the Cleveland Cavs 133-99.

The Raptors bench unit, among the best in the league, took charge (as well as the attention off of the double-teamed DeRozan), plus a total team offensive (& defensive) contribution that propelled Toronto over the Cavaliers.

Fred VanVleet, who took Lowry's spot at point guard, had 22 points, a career high, including six out of eight three-pointers. Jakob Poeltl & Valenciunas both had double-doubles. C.J. Miles as well as Norm Powell saw plenty of court time in contributing all-round.

It's worth noting that this Raptors team has been off to their best start in franchise history. The win over over the Cavs was the exclamation mark that encapsulates the new look Raptors & their success on the court.

Lowry 2-14 FG and 0-6 from the 3-point line last night. These are the types of lines that have killed them in the playoffs the last three years. They can talk all they want about moving the ball more this season and how much they've changed but the bottom line is they won't go anywhere in the post season if Lowry takes over and keeps shooting with such reckless abandon.

Lowry 2-14 FG and 0-6 from the 3-point line last night. These are the types of lines that have killed them in the playoffs the last three years. They can talk all they want about moving the ball more this season and how much they've changed but the bottom line is they won't go anywhere in the post season if Lowry takes over and keeps shooting with such reckless abandon.

Pointing out one game where this happens ignores what has happened the rest of the season with this team. It's kind of silly.

Lowry 2-14 FG and 0-6 from the 3-point line last night. These are the types of lines that have killed them in the playoffs the last three years. They can talk all they want about moving the ball more this season and how much they've changed but the bottom line is they won't go anywhere in the post season if Lowry takes over and keeps shooting with such reckless abandon.

Pointing out one game where this happens ignores what has happened the rest of the season with this team. It's kind of silly.

Yea, I get that it sounds like I'm overreacting to one game; it's just been an overlying problem that I'm worried about, I don't really care that they lost a meaningless game to a bad Jazz team. Lowry is such a bad shooter in big games and has a tendency to take too many attempts; I'm just hopeful that he cuts that down in the playoffs.

There is talk about Vince coming back. I will relate a story on why I went off the NBA to some degree after hearing it and then more evidence of why I continue to be off the game.The only reason I believe the story is my brother saw it with his own eyes when he was a Marshall at the course. During Carter's time with the Raptors he was asked as part of publicity to go to Devils Pulpit Golf course and glad hand people at an event. Public relations so to speak. Carter goes into a big pout when he finds he is not there to golf but to shake hands. During his hissy fit a 15 year kid goes over and asks for his autograph and Vince tells the kid to "F Off". Sorry but the people who pay for his castle in Orlando are paying customers that deserve his humble respect. So I started to sign off on NBA even though I still watched it. To date I have not watched a Raptors game this year. What has really capped it for me is the amount of community work the PGA does. Players and the PGA donate millions and millions a year to needy charity's mostly affecting kids. Look at he amount of community service the Leafs do for everyone and not just because Lou demands it.The NBA I am sure does its part to some small degree, but really the money these guys make could make a huge difference to so many kids. If anyone has any research to the contrary I am all ears....heck it may even make me watch the NBA again. Sorry but I have as much affection for Vince as a Lice

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